Determinism is the view that an unbroken chain of prior occurrences causally determines every event, including human cognition, behavior, decision, and action. [Van Inwagen, Peter, 1983, An Essay on Free Will, Oxford: Clarendon Press.]
What you are now is the result of what you were. What you will be tomorrow will be the result of what you are now. The consequence of an evil mind will follow you like the cart that follows the ox that pulls it. The consequence of a purified mind will follow you like your own shadow. [ Ven. H. Gunaratana Mahathera, Mindfulness in Plain English,1991, Wisdom Audio Visual Exchange.]
Is our future rebirth predetermined by our karma? Is the concept of karma deterministic for most being, with the exception of humans, whom through realization and discipline is able to liberate us from the determined path?
But in the following verse, be it good karma or bad karma, we inherit them and with our will, we forge our future path, conditioned by what we inherit.
"I am the owner of my karma.
I inherit my karma.
I am born of my karma.
I am related to my karma.
I live supported by my karma.
Whatever karma I create, whether good or evil, that I shall inherit." [The Buddha, Anguttara Nikaya V.57 - Upajjhatthana Sutta]
Does karma determine our future or condition our future?
